MOSCOW -- The Russian defense industry is working on an upgrade to the Admiral Gorshkov class frigates, dubbed the 'Super Gorshkov'.
In an interview with TASS Russian News Agency on September 24, 2018, Severnaya Verf CEO Igor Ponomaryov noted that research and development is ongoing for the Project 22350M frigate, an upgraded version of the Admiral Gorshkov class. He said, "We participate in this work together with the Northern Design Bureau, but the frigate’s parameters and their number will be determined by the Defense Ministry. Work is in progress."
Ponomaryov added, "I do not believe that four ships will be enough for the Navy, which needs the replacement of its blue water ships."
At least four Project 22350 frigates are to be in service in the next few years, starting with Admiral Gorshkov, which was commissioned after several delays this past summer. Once these frigates are in service, further vessels will be developed under the upgraded Project 22350M type. The Russian Navy is tentatively expecting to receive the first of the upgraded frigates in 2026, but plans have not been finalized.
Few details on the upgrade have been provided, but the frigates are said to carry improve armaments. The Super Gorshkovs will be larger than the originals and feature better radar systems. All of the Admiral Gorshkov frigates moving forward will require Russian-made gas turbine engines, though the first two in the class -- lead vessel Admiral Gorshkov as well as Admiral Kasatonov -- operate Ukrainian engines. Cooperation with Ukraine on engines ended after the outbreak of hostilities in eastern Ukraine.
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